The In Memoriam tribute at the Academy Awards is the most emotional part of the evening, paying tribute to industry icons who have passed away. It is a final tribute to their work, allowing audiences to remember their contributions.
The 2025 Oscars honored several late stars like Richard Roundtree, Chita Rivera, Carl Weathers, and Norman Lear. Their faces and names flashed on the screen as a live performance started the sentimental tribute. However, Shannen Doherty’s name didn’t make the list and this left most viewers furious.
Shannen Doherty’s rep reacts to her exclusion from Oscars In Memoriam
Doherty had a successful and lengthy career both on television and in films, and was left out of this year’s tribute. The star, who passed away in July 2024 at 53 after a decades-long battle with cancer, didn’t find a spot in the feature, and the decision prompted instant outrage.
Doherty’s representative didn’t beat around the bush in as they expressed sadness, and going on to say that not being included was actually very disappointing, given her decades of work in the industry. Beginning her career as a child actress, she had guest roles on Little House on the Prairie, Father Murphy, and The Phoenix, before becoming household names with her lead roles in Beverly Hills, 90210 and Charmed.
Fans react to Shannen Doherty’s exclusion from Oscars In Memoriam
Doherty’s loyal fan base immediately took to social media to voice their outrage. The majority were shocked that an actress as popular as Doherty could be left out of the tribute. One fan posted on X, formerly Twitter, “Shannen must be rolling in her grave.” Another user wrote, “She deserves better than that.”
Film enthusiasts also pointed out her role in the classic Heathers, with one user calling it “an outrageous slap in the face” that she was not acknowledged. Another fan added, “She was a groundbreaker in the way she stood up for herself and voiced her own opinions during a time when women in the industry were supposed to keep quiet. #Oscars.”